Norwegian and US cops help snare producer of online child porn

Cybersex suspect Anselmo Ico was presented to the media in a news conference today. (AP Photo)

Norwegian and US law enforcers have helped Philippine police snare the alleged operator of an online child pornography operation.

Anselmo Ico, known to his clients as “Jaja Jhoncel”, is alleged to have filmed sex acts with children at his home in Bulacan for foreign perverts.

National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran said Norwegian and US officers joined Filipino authorities in a raid yesterday (Thursday, March 8) that led to the arrest and the rescue of five children — a baby and four minors aged from two to 16.

Speaking at a press conference today, at which Ico was presented to the media, Norwegian police official Sidsel Isachsen said: “In Norway, the transnational crime of sexual exploitation of children is highly prioritised and we’re glad to see that your cooperation in this case so far has given us such tangible results.”

Norwegian police notified their Filipino counterparts in January about the arrest of a Norwegian, Ketil Andersen, who allegedly purchased child sex videos made in the Philippines.

Investigating officers took control of the 58-year-old’s Skype accounts to communicate with his Filipino accomplices. With the assistance of the International Justice Mission, this led them to Ico.

When asked by The Associated Press for his reaction, Ico admitted selling child sex videos for about 5,000 pesos each, but claimed the sex acts were staged. “That’s fake news. It’s not real… because it can be staged easily,” he said.

However, investigators believe he has been producing child sex videos since at least 2011, and he has been under the radar of US investigators since 2016.

Ico will be charged with violating the Expanded Anti-Human Trafficking of Persons Act of 2012, Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.